Pelargonium plant named ‘Dueazul’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueazul’, characterized by its compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; large red purple-colored semi-double flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEAZUL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dueazul’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Zonal Geranium plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2008 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z04-3223-002, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-06-015, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dueazul’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dueazul’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large red purple-colored semi-double flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have bluish-colored flowers. In addition, leaves of plants of the female parent selection have a more distinct zonation pattern than leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium zonale ‘Fiona’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Fiona’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were taller than plants of         ‘Fiona’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more freely branching         than plants of ‘Fiona’.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had longer and thicker         lateral branches than plants of ‘Fiona’.     -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more freely flowering         than plants of ‘Fiona’.     -   5. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Fiona’ differed         slightly in flower color.     -   6. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had longer peduncles than         plants of ‘Fiona’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dueazul’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Dueazul’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z04-3223-002,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             zonale identified as code number F-06-015, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to somewhat             outwardly spreading plant habit; uniformly rounded; densely             foliated; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about             eight basal branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 33.5 cm.         -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 18.5 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 40.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9.9 cm. Diameter: About             6.7 mm. Internode length: About 1.8 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Roughly reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 137B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 147D. Zonation pattern: Distance from margin: About             8.6 mm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Color: Close to 147A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double type flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliar plane on moderately strong             peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit, about 18 to 20             flowers per umbel and potentially about 16 to 20 flower             umbels developing per plant.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in             outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany, flowering is             continuous from spring throughout the summer until the             autumn; plants begin to flower about eight weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 7.4 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.4 cm by 4.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8.2 mm. Diameter: About 5.8 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 66A;             color becoming closer to 74A with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 66B; color             becoming closer to 74B with development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About eight or nine in one             to two whorls. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 66A. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 66B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2.6 mm. Shape:             Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 18.7 cm. Diameter:             About 3.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 2.4 cm.             Diameter: About 1.4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A and 187B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             Seven to ten. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color:             Close to 155A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther color: Close to 165B. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 9.6 mm.             Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 46A. Style             length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 46A. Ovary color:             Close to 138A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Zonal Geranium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geranium plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueazul’ as illustrated and described. 